As you try prayer, you discover faith is what helps us make a real connection with God.
One Last Hope
There was a woman who had been ill for ages. She had tried all the help the doctors could offer and spent all her money in the process. But this particular gynaecological problem was not going away. She had one last hope. Jesus had been healing all sorts of people from all sorts of problems. Perhaps, she thought, he could sort her condition.
So she mingled with the crowds around Jesus as he was going to see someone. There were many people and she didn’t want to draw attention to herself, but she pushed through the crowds, reached out and caught Jesus’ cloak. Suddenly she knew she wasn’t ill any more.
Faith and Prayer: Connection with God
Jesus said it was her faith that healed her.
She believed he could make the difference in her life. But she had to do something. She showed her faith by going to him and touching him. That was when power came out of him to heal her. She knew she had been healed.
Faith is what makes the difference between the many that just hang around and the one who really connects.
There are no requirements to coming to God. We do not need to be squeaky clean. God accepts us as we are – all we need to do is believe.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Something you can do today…
Try Praying
Jesus, there’s something about you and what you say that challenges me. now I’m invited to put my faith in you. I don’t find that easy. I’m on the fence and I want to get off on the right side. But what I know of you I like, so perhaps I can trust you.
Walk
As soon as you start walking from your home pray, “God, please walk through the day with me.”
Keep Praying For
- Your big issue – the area in your life where you most want God to work.
- Others – your friend or family member who needs help.
What About Unanswered Prayer?
A man prayed for his son’s epilepsy to stop. It didn’t. Years of uncontrollable seizures robbed his son of language and ability. Prayer for a deaf boy left him unchanged. A good relationship spiralled into an abusive one and, in spite of prayer, separation was the outcome.
Where is God when he doesn’t answer?
Prayer is a conversation between friends. It’s not like sending an email off into cyberspace wondering if it will ever be read by someone.
If we are in friendship with Jesus Christ we can be sure our prayers are heard. Fundamentally it is less about “getting something” and more about “knowing someone”. Our needs often propel us deeper into relationship with God.
There are times when we just need to keep going, knowing that it is not yet the end of the story. There’s an old African proverb that says, “No situation stays forever”. Often perplexing situations of unanswered prayer will yield to change as we persist.
Some things don’t work out the way we wanted, but strangely work out better. And sometimes the thing prayed for would not have been good. It’s only in hindsight that we realise it. But, agonisingly, some things do not work out and we may question whether God is really there.
The answers may not be understood until eternity. This life on earth is only temporary because we are being prepared for eternity in which there is reward and judgement. The next life is the real thing. The last book in the Bible has an incredible description of the future when there will be no more crying or pain. Perhaps then we will understand how close God
has been throughout our life.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Try telling God that you are willing to trust him – even with things that are confusing.
© There is Hope 2015.
Read the Other Posts in the Trypraying Series
You can read the other posts in our trypraying series as they are published here:
Find out more
You can find out more about trypraying basingstoke 2019 by reading this post.
You can also follow us on social media, where we will be posting about trypraying every day between 1-18 June 2019:
You can visit the website trypraying.co.uk which also gives access to the trypraying app and other useful articles.
You could attend the trypraying basingstoke prayer event being held at London Street URC on Sunday 9 June 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm. You’d be most welcome.
Or you can contact OneChurch Basingstoke direct, using the form on our Contact page.
What have you got to lose?
Pick up your free booklet from the train station or a church near you. God wants to hear from you!
